FEAR FACTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The #1 reason most don't take their "toys" to the track is they are affraid to crash, yet they drive on the 401 or any other highway, busy streets (ever drive Bathurst and Lawrence?), or play Ricky Road Racer in traffic. Yes, the track is by far the safest place to drive anything.
CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or lack of it, is another reason when a driver (or rider) fails to believe in themselves and trust their personal experience (not track experience) and feels if they go to the track they will crash their $$$ car (btw - superbikes cost as much and when crashed sustain much more damage). Rather then thinking that they will learn how to drive/ride and going out and having FUN, they think about the "what if". Sort of like me riding with a bikini top while on my Harley in 35C temps.........(forget the visual guys), if I had to think about what if I crash, then what the hell am I doing riding in the first place???
ABILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trust it, it's all you have while on the street/track. You need more ability to drive/ride well in the street then on the track (yeah, I know - she has no clue), and after riding on the track you will only increase your ability due to the reaction/response you learn on the track (things happen faster) and once on the street you realize just how much time you have to react.
SMOOTH = FAST
As any racer knows you have to be smooth in order to be fast and as others have posted previously, when if seems as if you're crawling at a slower pace -you're actually moving faster. Go out in the rain - it's an equalizer and won't matter what HP you have or set up as you have to be smooth and not upset the car/bike - the best rain riders make the fastest winners.
RELAX & BREATHE
Yup, something we all forget to do when in the "competition" mode.
FUN
Have it big time - that's why your're there. I don't think there are any Canadian bike racers who will be the next Rossi for the same reason no car drivers will be a Schumacher.
As for stock vs. modified........changing just give a bit of an edge with perhaps more speed, braking, suspension........but if you can't drive/ride up to the mods you made then you just wasted your money. Majority fall into the latter category, but I guess it looks good and if you can afford it - great.
In 04 I won my first Canadian Championship in women's road racing and I was on my 02 R6 (600cc Yamaha) and everyone else was on 04's. I not only beat the women but I also placed 8th overall with the guys in superbike (many on 1000 cc's) and 10th with the guys in 600 - all who had current models with max. hp in the 600 class of 115. My bike was at 99, and bone stock excpet for a rear shock and steering damper. I learned to ride what I had for the track conditions and was consistent lap after lap.
Makes no sense to fly down the back straight with your zillion hp, only to brake hard and loose all the momentum you gained.
I spoke to Stu the last dinner, and having never raced a car on the track 9did take my NSX out to Mosport for a few laps 5 yrs ago) it appears that the actual "racing" technique is very similar with cars and bikes. Now that I'm not racing I will get my car out there when time permits and I'm not on track coaching...........I certainly don't want to crash my car, but if I did it would be my mistake and not that of the "stock" car that I have simply because the car/bike NEVER controls the driver/rider - we control it.
If you don't want to take your car on the track, then I strongly recommend that yuo go out in someone else's car with them..........it will change your perception instantly.
Remember..........you're only as good as those you compare yourself to!
The #1 reason most don't take their "toys" to the track is they are affraid to crash, yet they drive on the 401 or any other highway, busy streets (ever drive Bathurst and Lawrence?), or play Ricky Road Racer in traffic. Yes, the track is by far the safest place to drive anything.
CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or lack of it, is another reason when a driver (or rider) fails to believe in themselves and trust their personal experience (not track experience) and feels if they go to the track they will crash their $$$ car (btw - superbikes cost as much and when crashed sustain much more damage). Rather then thinking that they will learn how to drive/ride and going out and having FUN, they think about the "what if". Sort of like me riding with a bikini top while on my Harley in 35C temps.........(forget the visual guys), if I had to think about what if I crash, then what the hell am I doing riding in the first place???
ABILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trust it, it's all you have while on the street/track. You need more ability to drive/ride well in the street then on the track (yeah, I know - she has no clue), and after riding on the track you will only increase your ability due to the reaction/response you learn on the track (things happen faster) and once on the street you realize just how much time you have to react.
SMOOTH = FAST
As any racer knows you have to be smooth in order to be fast and as others have posted previously, when if seems as if you're crawling at a slower pace -you're actually moving faster. Go out in the rain - it's an equalizer and won't matter what HP you have or set up as you have to be smooth and not upset the car/bike - the best rain riders make the fastest winners.
RELAX & BREATHE
Yup, something we all forget to do when in the "competition" mode.
FUN
Have it big time - that's why your're there. I don't think there are any Canadian bike racers who will be the next Rossi for the same reason no car drivers will be a Schumacher.
As for stock vs. modified........changing just give a bit of an edge with perhaps more speed, braking, suspension........but if you can't drive/ride up to the mods you made then you just wasted your money. Majority fall into the latter category, but I guess it looks good and if you can afford it - great.
In 04 I won my first Canadian Championship in women's road racing and I was on my 02 R6 (600cc Yamaha) and everyone else was on 04's. I not only beat the women but I also placed 8th overall with the guys in superbike (many on 1000 cc's) and 10th with the guys in 600 - all who had current models with max. hp in the 600 class of 115. My bike was at 99, and bone stock excpet for a rear shock and steering damper. I learned to ride what I had for the track conditions and was consistent lap after lap.
Makes no sense to fly down the back straight with your zillion hp, only to brake hard and loose all the momentum you gained.
I spoke to Stu the last dinner, and having never raced a car on the track 9did take my NSX out to Mosport for a few laps 5 yrs ago) it appears that the actual "racing" technique is very similar with cars and bikes. Now that I'm not racing I will get my car out there when time permits and I'm not on track coaching...........I certainly don't want to crash my car, but if I did it would be my mistake and not that of the "stock" car that I have simply because the car/bike NEVER controls the driver/rider - we control it.
If you don't want to take your car on the track, then I strongly recommend that yuo go out in someone else's car with them..........it will change your perception instantly.
Remember..........you're only as good as those you compare yourself to!
